Electric signal for railways.



J. H. GUNN. ELECTRIC SIGNAL PoR RAILWAYS. APPLICATION FILED AUGRS, 1908.

LYLBQ. Patented Oct. '.7, 1913.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cn.. WASHINGTON, D, cy

nutren srarns PATENT ouricn.

JOSEPH I-I. GUNN, OF CORTLAND, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL FOR RAILWAYS.

Application 1ed August 3, 1908.

T 0 all whom t may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH H. GUNN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cortland, in the county of Cortland and.

State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Electric Signals for Railways, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in electric signals, and relates more especially to signaling devices used in connection with railroad switches, and is especially adapted for use with the electric signal for railways set forth in my prior Patent No. 890,049, dated June 9, 1908.

My present invention contemplates the provision of means by which signals will be set automatically at suitable points along the railway in case the railroad-switch is open or the operating-lever thereof has been tampered with in any manner.

The invention further contemplates the application of the switch signals either in connection with or independently of the emergency danger signals.

The following specification enters into a detail description of my invention, and

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is more specifically set forth in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the electric signaling system, arranged in accordance with my present invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view of a form of switch-stand. Fig. 3 is a detail view of an electric switch mechanism employed in connection with an ordinary switch-stand. Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of Fig. 3, taken at the left of the switch-operating arm. Fig. 5 is a detail end view of the switch-operating arm.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In carrying out my invention I preferably employ the railroad-switch signaling apparatus, hereinafter described, in connection with the emergency danger signal system shown and described in my aforementioned patent. In the present instance I have shown but one station, as A, which is provided with the electric switches 5 and 6 for closing the circuits to operate the signals in either direction from said station,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 7, 1913. Serial No. 446,619.

the switch 5 operating the signals 5a, and the switch 6 the signals 6a.

In connection with the railroad-switch I employ signals 7, one of which is located adjoining the railroad-switch, as B, and others may be located along the railway in either or both directions from said railroadswitch. These signals may be in the form of ordinary electric lamps, preferably large, showing a red light, or in the form of signal blades of the character set forth in my prior patent, and in each instance are operated by an electric current and through the intervention of an electric-switch. rIhe electricswitch is arranged so as to be operated automatically when the lever of the switch-stand is operated to throw the railroad-switch, and one form of operating means is herein shown and now described.

The switch-stand in the present instance comprises a supporting frame 8 having a vertical shaft 9 with a crank 10 at its lower end connected to the rod 11 extending to the switch-points, as is usual. The vertical shaft is operated by a lever 12, and is eX- tended upwardly so as to operate an electric-switch, the latter comprising a switch lever or arm 13 adapted to engage the contact-point 14. The lever or arm 18 projects from a segment 15 and is actuated to complete the circuit by means of a spring 16 connected to one end of the segment and to a stationary part, as the support 24. The throw of the segment and switch-lever is limited by a stop-pin 17. The upper end of the vertical shaft of the switch-stand is provided with an arm or lever 18 having a depending portion 19 which travels in a segmental slot 15a of the aforesaid segment and is adapted to turn the segment and electric-switch-lever so as to break the circuit, the electric connections being shown in Fig. 3. The depending portion 19 is beveled at one side so that when the vertical shaft carrying the arm 18 is lowered in locking the switch-lever the segment will be moved to open the electric-switch and when said shaft is raised, preliminary to throwing the railroad switch-lever, the segment will move to close the electric-switch, whereby the railroad-switch must be in locked position to maintain the electric-switch open. As also shown in this figure the parts are suitably insulated. The lever 12 is preferably of that type having a bent end which engages between ears 2OA on the switcli stand to provide for locking the lever in either position, and in the operation of this lever 'it is required to yiirst raise the saine.'v YAs will be seen in raisingv the lever 1,2 the the electric switch lever will be turnedt'o close the electric circuit and operate the signals. Therefore, thel initial yoperation of the lever', 12 to open 'the railroad switch will cause the signals 7 to be displayed, and the electric circuit' will iiotbe 4broken until the lever 12 is again located in closed lock-4 iposition'. Thus to cut out the electric signals, as 7, Vthe railroad switch must' he entirely closed and the operating'-lever 12 inust'be in locked position.' y l a The' afl-hg'rnt Shown' and described iJfOf vides for displaying Suitable Signals. when a railroadswitch is open, 'or even partly' open, and if desired theconne'ctions' or 'wiring ina'y be such that upon the operation of the lever 12 to open the railroad switch, the operation of the electric-switch 13r will also operate the danger signals 5 andoa in both directions freni the' station A, to thereby warn approaching trains that the switch is Open 'As heretofore stated this signalingsystem may be Vemployed in connection with the electric. signal for railways set forth in my prior patent, but I do not wishto liinit iny present protection by 'such applcatom for it will be obvious that the signal devicefor railroad-switches, as herein shown and described, in'ay be also used independently.

The electric-switch is located in the present instance on a cross-arm supported at the and is preferably covupper-eed @f a P018 ered and protected from the *weather'by Ineans of a deine-shapedinclosing-case 25. mrHaving thus described iny 'invention7 what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patenti, isfj s A"In ,an ,electricV signal for railways, the Acoiiibination with railroad switch and le` ver' for operating the saine,` cfa vertically ino'vable shaft to vwhich the railroad switchl and lever a're'eonnected, electric signals, a ro i tatable electric-switch controlling the latter,

a spring connected to the electric-switch for inoving' thesanie to normally closed posi?" tion, anrconnectedto and projecting from the vertically inovable shaft, and a `depending portion cnfthe arin beveled at one side to engage and move' the electricswitch to open position when the shaft is Itur'ned and lowered to "close `and locl; the

railroad switch,Ak substantially as shown and in' 'testimony whereof l have signed my naine to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Y JOSEPH 1-1. GUNN.

"Witnessesz Y ,Y

i Gelo. I. WVATsoN,

D. R. SEAMANK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five centsy ac li, by addressing the' Commissioner lof'V1':a1;ex1'c`s, 

